Some random things.
First, Stargate Atlantis. Its last and not best season. I am amused that we’ve now seen three episodes in which Torri Higginson is featured, to varying degrees, in flashback sequences. First of course there was Ghost in the Machine, the episode in which they (sort of) wrapped up her storyline and for which she refused to return. Leaving the part of Elizabeth to be played by a robotic voice and Michelle Morgan, the actress who did such a nice job as FRAN last season.
Then Weir was used to establish backstory for the Daniel Jackson arc and again last Friday fairly extensively in Inquisition, an episode consisting mostly of flashbacks recounting the Atlantis team’s various crimes against the Pegasus galaxy.
How to have the actress on your show without actually having her on your show 🙂
Now SGA is not the best science fiction television ever. IMO opinion that honor is shared by Firefly, Farscape and Battlestar Galactica. But its first three seasons were pretty good. In large part because of the dynamics of the characters.
But the ratings weren’t there.
So, the producers decided to shake things up and kill off a couple fan favorites. replacing them with other characters who haven’t really gelled with the audience.
Simply put, they f***ed up their show. It’s had a few good moments since, but it’s not as consistently good as it was in the early years. Even if you don’t like the Stargate franchise, watch the Atlantis pilot Rising. It hooks you, and good.
The ratings got worse, not better, after the late season 3/early season 4 changes.
It just wasn’t as compelling without the dynamic between characters John Sheppard (played by Joe Flanigan) and Elizabeth Weir (Higginson). I like Amanda Tapping and Robert Picardo, the actors who successively have played the leader role, but the chemistry just isn’t the same. And not only due to the “shippy” elements of the John/Elizabeth relationship.
Even if you didn’t “ship” John and Elizabeth (and I do), the characters had a real partnership that anchored the show and couldn’t/didn’t transfer to the subsequent leader characters Carter and Woolsey.
What made the show special was gone. Not surprisingly, the show won’t be back for a 6th season.
And they keep bringing Weir/Higginson back in flashbacks.
Hhmm? Just a suggestion, but maybe the producers should try a little harder to get Higginson on board for the planned Stargate Atlantis telefilm next year. You know, give her a real story that either truly wraps up her character or brings the character back to life. Preferably the second in case there are future films.
Instead of just teasing the audience with a few flashbacks.
Topic two. The long awaited My Name Is Bruce premieres this weekend in Austin. Actor Bruce Campbell will be doing personal appearances across the country at showings of the film. November 7th is the Boston date. I was thinking about going but we will be in Vermont that weekend so I’ll have to wait for the DVD.
Finally. Farscape. It doesn’t get much better than this.
As I have Joss Whedon’s Firefly, I’ve watched this series at least a couple times through, and some episodes even more. If you’ve never watched, do yourself a favor. Skip the dreck that’s on most channels today, and rent or buy the DVDs.
[tags] Stargate Atlantis, My Name Is Bruce, Farscape [/tags]